Abstract
Pyramidal tract neurons (PTs) represent the major output cell type of the mammalian neocortex. Here, we report the origins of the PTs’ ability to respond to a broad range of stimuli with onset latencies that rival or even precede those of their intracortical input neurons. We find that neurons with extensive horizontally projecting axons cluster around the deep-layer terminal fields of primary thalamocortical axons. The strategic location of these corticocortical neurons results in high convergence of thalamocortical inputs, which drive reliable sensory-evoked responses that precede those in other excitatory cell types. The resultant fast and horizontal stream of excitation provides PTs throughout the cortical area with input that acts to amplify additional inputs from thalamocortical and other intracortical populations. The fast onsets and broadly tuned characteristics of PT responses hence reflect a gating mechanism in the deep layers, which assures that sensory-evoked input can be reliably transformed into cortical output.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 122-137.e8 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| Journal | Neuron |
| Volume | 105 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 26 Nov 2019 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 8 Jan 2020 |
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Keywords
- barrel cortex
- corticocortical neurons
- in silico
- pyramidal tract neurons
- synchrony
Cite this
}
Cortical Output Is Gated by Horizontally Projecting Neurons in the Deep Layers. / Egger, Robert; Narayanan, Rajeevan T.; Guest, Jason M.; Bast, Arco; Udvary, Daniel; Messore, Luis F.; Das, Suman; de Kock, Christiaan P.J.; Oberlaender, Marcel.
In: Neuron, Vol. 105, No. 1, 08.01.2020, p. 122-137.e8.Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Cortical Output Is Gated by Horizontally Projecting Neurons in the Deep Layers
AU - Egger, Robert
AU - Narayanan, Rajeevan T.
AU - Guest, Jason M.
AU - Bast, Arco
AU - Udvary, Daniel
AU - Messore, Luis F.
AU - Das, Suman
AU - de Kock, Christiaan P.J.
AU - Oberlaender, Marcel
PY - 2020/1/8
Y1 - 2020/1/8
N2 - Pyramidal tract neurons (PTs) represent the major output cell type of the mammalian neocortex. Here, we report the origins of the PTs’ ability to respond to a broad range of stimuli with onset latencies that rival or even precede those of their intracortical input neurons. We find that neurons with extensive horizontally projecting axons cluster around the deep-layer terminal fields of primary thalamocortical axons. The strategic location of these corticocortical neurons results in high convergence of thalamocortical inputs, which drive reliable sensory-evoked responses that precede those in other excitatory cell types. The resultant fast and horizontal stream of excitation provides PTs throughout the cortical area with input that acts to amplify additional inputs from thalamocortical and other intracortical populations. The fast onsets and broadly tuned characteristics of PT responses hence reflect a gating mechanism in the deep layers, which assures that sensory-evoked input can be reliably transformed into cortical output.
AB - Pyramidal tract neurons (PTs) represent the major output cell type of the mammalian neocortex. Here, we report the origins of the PTs’ ability to respond to a broad range of stimuli with onset latencies that rival or even precede those of their intracortical input neurons. We find that neurons with extensive horizontally projecting axons cluster around the deep-layer terminal fields of primary thalamocortical axons. The strategic location of these corticocortical neurons results in high convergence of thalamocortical inputs, which drive reliable sensory-evoked responses that precede those in other excitatory cell types. The resultant fast and horizontal stream of excitation provides PTs throughout the cortical area with input that acts to amplify additional inputs from thalamocortical and other intracortical populations. The fast onsets and broadly tuned characteristics of PT responses hence reflect a gating mechanism in the deep layers, which assures that sensory-evoked input can be reliably transformed into cortical output.
KW - barrel cortex
KW - corticocortical neurons
KW - in silico
KW - pyramidal tract neurons
KW - synchrony
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85077384882&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85077384882&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.10.011
DO - 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.10.011
M3 - Article
VL - 105
SP - 122-137.e8
JO - Neuron
JF - Neuron
SN - 0896-6273
IS - 1
ER -